Structural Steel

According to Tekla, of the $3.5 trillion spent worldwide on commercial construction, 20 percent goes to waste. That’s $700 billion flushed due to preventable design inaccuracies. Even with computers to work out...

Should you care if your construction steel supplier goes to the heavy expense and trouble to become AISC certified? That depends. Do you want your job to proceed efficiently and safely? 

When designing with structural steel, does it have to be all straight runs, angles and joints?

It's nice to have options. New construction can incorporate a number of structural support elements, the basic three being steel, wood or concrete. 

Structural design is all about calculating loads. The engineering firm Nishkian offers a succinct description: "Loads are commonly understood as forces that cause stresses, deformations, or accelerations. 

Every pound counts in architectural design. The more materials used, the more expensive the building. However, too little material results in a weak edifice.

Many of our customers are asking us, "Why is steel costing so much?" It's a fair question with no simple answer.

You can erect nearly anything with steel: homes, shops, hangars, factories, warehouses, high rises, entertainment/sports arenas and shopping malls. The inherent compressive and tensile properties of steel lend more versatility to architectural design than any other conventional framing system.

Off all building materials, non have the range and versatility of steel. Like stone and concrete, it has tremendous compressive strength and can be formed into nearly any shape. 

If you're building a new home, or deeply renovating the one you have, you may wonder whether to use steel beams vs. wood beams. The answer depends on your budget, design goals, construction schedule and sustainability preferences.